Australian born John completed his mounting and diamond setting apprenticeship in Brisbane with Wallace Bishop. He then moved to Sydney in 1981 and worked for Russel Mc Collough as designer, using black opals. He lived in Amsterdam then Prague for several years working as a mounter before moving to London, England in 1991. He worked as a designer and mounter for Jess James, The Great Frog and Dower and Hall before founding his own company 'Johnny Rocket Limited' in 1997 in East London.
